Newcastle United’s summer rebuild is gathering pace, with the club moving quickly from sales into a run of younger, high-upside additions.
According to Dutch outlet AD’s Johan Inan, Newcastle is close to signing Ajax midfielder Sean Steur in a deal worth around €27 million, including bonuses.
“Sean Steur is on the verge of a sensational transfer,” Inan wrote. “Ajax has reached a virtual agreement with Newcastle United regarding the move for the 18-year-old top talent.”
The Athletic’s David Ornstein
confirmed the original report on Tuesday morning, revealing that Steur “has already said goodbye to players and staff at Ajax ahead of the anticipated move.”
The report states that Steur has also agreed to join NUFC on a five-year contract.
“Steur himself has also agreed in principle with Newcastle United,” Inan wrote. “A five-season contract awaits him at St. James’ Park.”
Inan reported that the plan is for Steur to leave Ajax’s training camp and travel to England in the coming days for his medical. Ornstein’s information seemed to confirm that.
The Athletic added that Ajax wanted to retain the player for the remainder of his contract, but knowing he had given no indication he’d like to re-sign there and two years left on his deal, the Dutch club decided to move on quickly.
That information contrasts with AD’s report, as the latter labeled the move a major surprise because Steur had been “expected to sign” a new Ajax contract after earlier reaching a provisional agreement with former technical director Alex Kroes.
It looks like the reason for Steur’s change of heart is related to the appointment of new technical director Jordi Cruijff, with whom he couldn’t agree on the same extension as previously discussed.
“Newcastle United has less trouble with that,” Inan wrote of Ajax’s asking price. “The Magpies pushed ahead last weekend and managed to dispel the major doubts of both the club and the player.”
Steur made 20 Eredivisie appearances and 25 across all competitions last season, scoring once, and is now set to become Newcastle’s latest young addition after goalie Ewen Jaouen and winger Bazoumana Toure arrived earlier in the window.
